In the blink of an eye, two days had passed.
These two days were relatively uneventful for Alvin... at least in terms of physical safety.
But emotionally, he was utterly overwhelmed.
Two days had passed since the incident with Gray, and Alvin still didn't know when Reines and Manaka had shown up at his door or whether they had heard anything from inside.
Judging by the meaningful look in Manaka's eyes at the time, she had clearly noticed something.
Thankfully, this was the Clock Tower.
Anywhere else, and Alvin might already be on a one-way trip to the dark room.
Even though the two girls hadn't pressed the issue, the past two days hadn't been easy for Alvin.
His relationship with Reines had been warming up lately, but after the incident with Gray in his room, her attitude toward him had become noticeably colder.
Even in class, they barely spoke.
With the time for his transmigration return drawing closer, that afternoon, after class, Kayneth summoned Alvin to his office.
The Department of Mineralogy had its own teaching and laboratory buildings, and Kayneth's office was tucked away in the depths of the teaching building.
When Alvin arrived as scheduled and pushed open the door, he saw the blond, slicked-back man seated at a desk, flipping through documents.
"Professor, you wanted to see me?"
Alvin entered the room, asking respectfully.
"What's going on between you and Reines these past two days?"
Kayneth didn't look up, and just spoke in a casual tone.
"I'm not sure... Maybe I upset her somehow."
Alvin replied.
He couldn't exactly tell Kayneth:
Your sister probably overheard something between me and Gray in my room, so she's upset, right?
He expected Kayneth to press further, but fortunately, he didn't dwell on the topic, instead shifting gears lightly: "You and Manaka Sajyou seem to get along well, don't you?"
Is Kayneth here to gossip today? That's not like him... Alvin couldn't help but wonder, but he nodded: "...Pretty well."
Kayneth stood and walked to a nearby tea table, pulling out a bag of tea leaves.
As he poured the leaves into a pot, watching the steam rise from the hot water, he said slowly. "During the last Holy Grail War, I witnessed the power of the Root firsthand... That girl possesses a power that could drive countless magi mad."
"...She came here for you, didn't she?"
Before Alvin could respond, Kayneth continued softly. "These past two days, several of the Clock Tower's Lords have clashed. Did you know about that?"
Alvin thought to himself: I've been so caught up with Reines and Manaka that I haven't had time to notice anything else.
But he put on an attentive expression and said. "I've been busy these past two days and haven't heard. What happened...?"
"The Clock Tower was founded for the sake of legacy... Every major mage family places immense value on inheritance.
While magi operate in the shadows, within the Clock Tower, fame is essential for a family to grow stronger."
"A talented student could play a crucial role in elevating a family's status... That's one of the reasons I took you as my disciple."
At this point, Alvin had a faint inkling and said instinctively. "You're here to talk about Manaka's mentor, aren't you...?"
Not every Clock Tower student has a Lord as a mentor, but those with exceptional talent or who catch a Lord's eye may be taken as disciples.
Manaka Sajyou had joined the Clock Tower three days ago, and from the moment she arrived, the Lords had set their sights on her.
After all, a student who could join the Clock Tower under special circumstances... her talent was undoubtedly remarkable.
Moreover, her outstanding grasp of magical theory in the past few days had already proven her potential.
But to think Kayneth had his eye on Manaka too... Didn't he know how dangerous she was?
Due to her lack of proper guidance and upbringing, Manaka Sajyou's worldview was entirely different from that of ordinary people.
A girl like her was essentially a ticking time bomb, liable to explode if not handled carefully.
Kayneth had seen how Matou Zouken died in Fuyuki... So why would he still want to take her as a disciple?
"It's not me who wants to take Manaka Sajyou as a disciple."
As if reading Alvin's thoughts, Kayneth said softly. "It's my teacher, Eulyphis."
Alvin froze for a moment, picturing the white-haired, perpetually grim old man in his mind as he paused briefly before saying: "She's not really suited to having any Lord as her teacher."
On one hand, it was due to Manaka Sajyou's personality; on the other... the Clock Tower was a gathering place for magi, and Manaka's magical circuits were far too unique.
If a Lord discovered her circuits were connected to the Root, it could attract unwanted attention.
Kayneth didn't seem surprised by Alvin's response.
After thinking about it for a moment, he nodded. "I'll help you turn down the idea."
For Kayneth, he didn't care much about others, but Manaka was closely tied to Alvin.
And he had his own motives...
The El-Melloi family's only reliable heir was Kayneth himself.
Further down, Reines' talent as a magus was far from sufficient to inherit the family.
If something happened to him in the future, having Alvin around would at least ensure the El-Melloi family didn't completely fade from the Clock Tower's stage.
"Is that okay...?"
Alvin asked tentatively.
After all, while the Lord of Mineralogy always appeared supremely arrogant in public, he felt an inexplicable pressure when facing his teacher and father-in-law.
Having failed in this Holy Grail War likely already disappointed Eulyphis.
If he couldn't handle this matter either...
"My affairs don't need a kid like you worrying about them."
Kayneth stood with his hands behind his back, speaking in a calm tone.
"I know what you're thinking... You believe my failure in this Holy Grail War has greatly damaged my standing with my teacher, right?"
Isn't that the case... Alvin remained silent.
"He likely knows some details about the Fuyuki Holy Grail War, but he doesn't know that Manaka Sajyou was one of the Masters."
Hearing this, Alvin quietly breathed a sigh of relief for his teacher.
Anyone who knew the specifics of the Fourth Holy Grail War wouldn't consider Kayneth's participation a failure.
After all, the Masters and Servants in that war... surviving and leaving Fuyuki alive was already an accomplishment.
At this thought, Alvin's mind drifted to Illya and Sakura, who was still in Fuyuki.
Several days had passed since then.
They should have settled down by now... How were they doing?
"Your return to ancient Britain is this afternoon. Be careful on this trip."
Kayneth suddenly said as Alvin snapped back to attention, instinctively asking. "Why do you say that?"
"Do you know what magi spend their lives pursuing?"
Instead of answering, Kayneth posed a seemingly unrelated question.
Alvin thought for a moment before replying without hesitation:. "The Root."
Magi dedicated their lives to pursuing the Root, believing that reaching it would make them a true "god."
This was the real reason Alvin didn't want Manaka's connection to the Root exposed.
Kayneth nodded. "In the past, the secrets of Fuyuki's Greater Grail system were guarded by the Tohsaka, Matou, and Einzbern families. But after the last Holy Grail War, that secret has spread to many outsiders."
"There's been a rumor in the Clock Tower these past few days...
Whoever obtains the Greater Grail gains the qualifications to reach the Root."
Alvin's heart jolted, and he instinctively said. "But wasn't the Greater Grail destroyed?"
Kayneth shook his head.
"Not long ago, my teacher told me the Greater Grail has been fully restored."
"However, since the Fourth Holy Grail War just ended, the Greater Grail system hasn't fully cooled down yet...
But this also means people from all sides will have more time to prepare for the next war."
"And holy relics are their target."
Alvin's brows furrowed as he suddenly grasped the meaning behind Kayneth's words, saying softly. "So you're saying... these transmigrators might try to obtain holy relics in ancient Britain for the Holy Grail War?"
In the past, magi had only two ways to acquire holy relics: auctions held by ancient noble families or through intelligence.
The burial sites of particularly powerful or famous heroic spirits might contain their "holy relics."
But now, some magi had a third method.
—Travel to ancient Britain and acquire holy relics directly.
After roughly piecing together the situation, Alvin suddenly thought of something important and asked.
"Are you planning to participate in the next Holy Grail War?"
Kayneth raised an eyebrow: "What, are you worried about me going to Fuyuki?"
"I know how strong you are, Professor... I'm just thinking, the last Holy Grail War caused such a huge mess. I wonder if the next one will be even worse..."
Alvin said.
He first acknowledged Kayneth's strength, then tactfully cautioned him against acting rashly.
Though Alvin had managed to get Kayneth back to the Clock Tower safely last time... that Holy Grail War had already been dangerous.
If there was a next time, hr couldn't guarantee whether the world's timeline would converge, leading to Kayneth's tragic death in the war.
Kayneth fell silent, lost in thought. After a moment, he said gravely.
"Go back for now. I'll think it over."
During the Fourth Holy Grail War, this once supremely arrogant Clock Tower Lord had witnessed immense risks... Servants of unparalleled strength, and Masters with abilities bordering on godlike.
If the next Holy Grail War was anything like that... was participating really worth it?
Kayneth looked out the window, the radiant afternoon sunlight spilling across his face, his sharp features etched with contemplation and hesitation.
...
Fuyuki.
Cough...
Another heavy cough echoed through the Tohsaka residence.
The man in casual pajamas covered his mouth, his face weary with exhaustion.
Tokiomi Tohsaka.
Since the battle at Mount Enzou ended, though he had avoided the tragic fate of being betrayed by his disciple, his exposure to the black mud, and the curse from the Avenger within it, had taken its toll.
The first night passed without incident, but from the second day onward, Tokiomi's body began to show signs of discomfort and weakness.
"Why don't you go back to that hospital from last time? Maybe they can help..."
Aoi Tohsaka crouched beside her husband, her voice filled with worry.
"I'm fine... It's just a minor illness."
Tokiomi Tohsaka waved his hand dismissively.
"If you hadn't gone to Mount Enzou that day, maybe none of this would've happened..."
"Nobody knows the outcome until the end. If I hadn't gone, I might still be regretting it now."
Tokiomi shook his head.
No one could have predicted the chaos that unfolded at Mount Enzou...
If the Hero King hadn't been ambushed, his Command Spells could have made a difference.
'But at this rate, I wonder if I'll even last until the next Holy Grail War..."Tokiomi thought silently.
At that moment, he caught sight of two small figures approaching from the corner of his eye.
Rin Tohsaka... and his other daughter, Sakura Matou.
Tokiomi hid his exhaustion and said: "Sakura, Rin... What brings you here?"
Sakura approached him, asking timidly. "Are you okay?"
Tokiomi smiled and shook his head. "I'm fine, just a slight cold... Are you settling in at home these days?"
After learning the secrets of the Matou family, Tokiomi had always felt he owed Sakura, so he treated her with particular gentleness.
Sakura nodded lightly."Mom and Rin have been very good to me..."
Though she said this, her tone still carried a hint of distance.
Being sent to another family as a child felt like a betrayal to the girl... a wound that might take a lifetime to heal.
"Are you still working on Holy Grail War matters?"
Sakura suddenly asked.
Tokiomi nodded. "Though the Holy Grail War hasn't started, preparations need to begin early... Aoi, take Sakura out for now. I have something to discuss with Rin alone."
Aoi nodded silently and soon led Sakura out of the hall.
The hall fell quiet again.
Rin looked at her father with confusion, asking softly.
"What's wrong? Why did you ask Sakura and Mom to leave?"
Looking at his daughter, Tokiomi's gaze softened. "Rin, before the next Holy Grail War begins, I'll pass the Tohsaka family's Magic Crest to you."
The young girl froze, then exclaimed in shock. "Why?"
"Because you will be the next head of the Tohsaka family."
Tokiomi gazed earnestly into his daughter's eyes, saying slowly.
"This Holy Grail War showed me my limits... But you're different. I hope you'll participate in the next war... and bring the glory of victory back to the Tohsaka family."
His words, almost like a last will, startled Rin: "Father, are you saying..."
Tokiomi interrupted. "The time for the transmigration is approaching... On this trip, I'll do my best to secure a holy relic that could be the key to winning the Holy Grail War."
Rin paused, then asked instinctively.
"A holy relic?"
Tokiomi nodded slightly, locking eyes with his daughter.
"He was a Servant in the last Holy Grail War."
"The White Dragon of Britain... Alvin."
.
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